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The story
behind Bala’s Museum is almost as colourful as any story
that L.M. Montgomery wrote. In July, 1990, Jack and Linda
Hutton honeymooned in P.E.I. Days after returning to Bala,
they saw a letter from Dr. Mary Rubio, L.M. Montgomery’s
official biographer, which told them that LMM had based one
of her best books, "The Blue Castle", upon a little-known
Bala holiday in 1922.
Jack and
Linda promptly bought the former tourist home where LMM had
her meals and lovingly restored it back to what Lucy Maud
Montgomery saw in 1922. The museum officially opened on July
24th, 1992, the 70th anniversary of the day that LMM arrived
in Bala.
Many predicted
that a private museum would last no more than two or three
years without public funding of any kind. On the contrary,
Bala’s Museum is still here and known around the world
as one of the best L.M. Montgomery museums anywhere. By late
2008, more than 90,000 visitors had come from every corner
of the globe.
A visit
to Bala’s Museum offers you:
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Insights into how much Muskoka meant to Lucy
Maud Montgomery at a stressful point in her life. (She
wrote in her diary: "Bala is a dear spot. Somehow I love
it. It has the flavour of home.")
•
A chance to relax in the atmosphere of a Bala home in the
1920s when families spent entire summers in Muskoka.
•
A chance to see one of the world’s best public collections
of LMM’s books, including first editions and rare printings
from other countries. Foreign editions include Hebrew, Korean,
Japanese, Chinese, Norwegian and Icelandic.
In 1998,
Jack and Linda Hutton told the story behind their museum and
"The Blue Castle" in their own book, "Lucy
Maud Montgomery and Bala: a Love Story of the North Woods".
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BALA'S
MUSEUM
with Memories of Lucy Maud Montgomery
Spring
Hours
Weekends May 22 - June 27
Saturday - Sunday 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Fall
Hours
Sept. 11 - Oct. 17
Saturday - Sunday 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Call
to arrange special tours on fall or spring week days.
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WE'LL
BE ABSENT SUNDAY, JUNE 13th!
Hi folks. Jack's mother is turning 100
on that date and we will be helping her celebrate. The party
is three hours away from Bala, so don't look for us on Sunday,
June 13th. Wow -- 100-years-old!
Jack and Linda.
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DOORS
OPEN MUSKOKA
Friday,
June 25th, 2010
10
a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free admission one day only!
Guided
tours and ragtime piano included
Click
here for Doors Open sites in Bala and Port Carling
www.doorsopenontario.on.ca
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 Everything
Anne Day
Saturday, July 24, 2010, 1:30pm
Our annual
re-enactment of L.M. Montgomery coming to Bala in 1922 is
an afternoon of "Everything Anne". Families will
enjoy egg-on-a-spoon races, 3-legged races, sack races, and
prizes for best costumes of characters from "Anne of
Green Gables" (Anne, Diana, Matthew, Marilla, Gilbert
and Josie Pye). Popcorn, cake, and freckles are free. Bring
the whole family for an afternoon of fun at 1:30. Normal admission
of $3.50 a person or $10 for family of four.
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Cran-Anne
Look-A-like Contest – Sat. Oct. 16, 2010
Always
one of the most popular events at the Bala Cranberry Festival.
Click here for the Cran-Anne page
to learn more about the 2009 judging. The
winner, Fiona Rowat, 9, is at the left.
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Group
Tours Welcome!
Chinese
visitors welcome! Click here
Korean
visitors welcome! Click here
It’s
one of the best in all Canada!
Bala’s
Museum celebrates the life and writings of Canada’s favourite
author, Lucy Maud Montgomery. Since its opening in July, 1992, it
has become known as one of the best LMM museums in all Canada, attracting
LMM fans and scholars from all around the world (39 countries so
far ).
But
Bala’s Museum is more than that. It is a wonderful family outing where children
can take tours in our costumes (see above). Family fun is what we’re all
about.
Group tours
also love the museum. Linda does a talk on the life and times of
L.M. Montgomery. Jack does a ragtime sing-along. (Click
here for group tour info).
Admission
$3.50 a person / $10
a family (limit of four).
Bala’s
Museum L.M. Montgomery Exhibits - The
silver tea set given to LMM as a wedding present in 1911 is on display. We are
grateful to her grandson, David Macdonald, for loaning it to us.
- A
set of 1939 Sunday School papers with LMM’s condensation of "Anne of
Ingleside".
- The
basket in which Maud kept her personal correspondence.
- One
of the best collections of her books, including rare and first editions. Foreign
editions include Chinese (click here), Dutch, Polish, Japanese, Icelandic, French
and many others .
- Handwritten
excerpts and photos from LMM’s Bala diary.
- The
boat that sank under actress Megan Follows in the TV movie "Anne of Green
Gables".
- Avonlea
schoolhouse in miniature.
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Our
Gift Shop
The Toronto
Sun has said we have one of the best Anne of Green Gables
gift shops in Canada and we just get better and better. Offered
are hard-to-find editions of LMM books, Anne movies, Anne
dollars, old-fashioned toys and exclusive dolls, vintage Green
Gables china. It’s worth the drive to Bala for the special
people on your Christmas list.
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Kids
Can Dress Up
Boys and
girls have a choice of our costumes to wear during their family
tour. For girls, dresses and flowered hats right out of "Avonlea";
sailor shirts and hats for boys (That’s Linda with a
typical tour at left).
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How
to get a discount on your admission all summer long!
Proof
of purchase or admission from any authorized Muskoka Attraction
(see the list) entitles you to a $3.00 single admission (regularly
$3.50) or a $9.00 family admission (regularly $10) to Bala’s
Museum. Discount partners include: Santa’s Village, Lady
Muskoka Cruises, Muskoka Heritage Place, Back Country Paintball,
Muskoka Lakes Museum, Muskoka Wildlife Centre, Rich Hill Candles
& Gifts, Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre, Bethune Memorial
House.
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Anne:
Madly Off In All Directions
Our
newest display will show how a book about a red-haired orphan
caught the world by surprise in 1908, and the amazing spin-offs
that have resulted from that first "Anne of Green Gables"book.
Visitors will find several surprises in the display, including
a few "Anne" souvenir items that would have L.M.
Montgomery spinning in her grave.
Location
& Directions
We are
about 200 kilometres or a two-hour drive north of Toronto.
Click here for directions and maps.
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LIcensed
by Heirs of L.M. Montgomery
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Member
Ontario Museums Association
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